Washington, D.C. - The Federal Election Commission on Thursday denied the request of a prominent Tea Party organization that argued it should not have to disclose its political donors because they might face harassment from the government or the public.

The Tea Party Leadership Fund, which recently announced that it is seeking challengers for the 87 Republicans who voted to end last month's government shutdown, told the FEC that an exemption from public disclosure would be justified by part of the Supreme Court's decision in Buckley v. Valeo.

The group's lawyers noted the decision lets organizations like the Socialist Workers Party have an exemption from disclosing their contributors if they can establish a "reasonable probability that the compelled disclosure would result in threats, harassment, or reprisals from either Government officials or private parties."

"As grassroots outsiders, TEA Party supporters are accustomed to defending their values from both government officials and private opprobrium," the group said in a September filing with the FEC. "But the TEA Party is now encountering unprecedented harassment from both government officials and private actors."

The Tea Party group filed more than 1,000 pages of documents it said showed harassment, including reports on the IRS questioning whether Tea Party and other political groups should have tax exempt status, and criticism of its stances by the media and politicians including President Barack Obama, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan.

In making its case, it cited an op-ed by Brown that described Tea Party populism as "driven by anger at our government and at our country," and an instance where Ryan referred to its activists as "tea bagger protestors."

Organizations like Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center opposed the group's request, arguing that the disclosure exemption is only available when the threat to the exercise of First Amendment rights is so serious and the state interest furthered by disclosure so insubstantial that [the disclosure requirement] cannot be constitutionally applied.

Paul S. Ryan of the Campaign Legal Center said that if the FEC had granted the Tea Party an exemption originally given to the imperiled membership of the NAACP in the Jim Crow South, "it is difficult to imagine what political groups would not qualify for the exemption  including the Republican and Democratic National Committees.

A few private citizens wrote in as well, including Daniel Torre, a mortgage consultant in Beavercreek, Ohio, who contended the Tea Party organization was trying to "see how far they can push the rules," and said if they could "hide their donors then anyone in the world can and will influence and buy our elections."

While two Federal Election Commission members sided with the Tea Party Leadership Fund and said its evidence of harassment was stronger than documentation provided by he Socialist Workers Party, other commission members said the situation was not the same. The FEC denied the group's request in a 3 to 2 vote.

FEC Chair Ellen L. Weintraub pointed out the Socialist organization never supported a winning candidate and had only 11 donors that gave more than the $200 disclosure requirement, so just a few names were hidden from the public.

She said the Tea Party's greater political success and its larger donor base were "an important political distinction."

"Certainly, no-one at this table wishes to condone any form of harassment for anyone who is trying to express their political views in any way," said Weintraub, noting that when allegations were raised about the IRS targeting political groups for scrutiny "there was bipartisan outrage."

The Tea Party Leadership Fund's disclosure forms show it raised more than $1 million in each of the last two election cycles, collecting several thousand dollars from Ohio residents.

The 87 members of Congress it has dubbed "Republican traitors" and promised to challenge in next year's GOP primaries include House Speaker John Boehner of West Chester, Rep. Pat Tiberi of the Columbus area and Rep. Dave Joyce of Russell Township.

While two Federal Election Commission members sided with the Tea Party Leadership Fund and said its evidence of harassment was stronger than documentation provided by the Socialist Workers Party, other commission members said the situation was not the same. The FEC denied the groups request in a 3 to 2 vote.

I believe that all donors should be disclosed, without exception. Political contributions should be unlimited, but should be posted on a publicly available website within 24 hours. Candidates, PAC, advocacy groups, non profits should all be required to report contributions. No exceptions.

Right now, only contributions to conservatives are required to be reported.

All us Taxed Enough Already types, who value sane policy over partisan politics, are to be silenced, if we do not pay to play on, and/or join either the D or R union type teams!

Is this an official card check attempt against USA citizens by our RICO crime filled government?Or is the government class declaring war against we citizens, as potential members of a criminal conspiracy to stop their unconstitutional operations, and thus be deemed subject to RICO crimes? Why yes, I believe it is both!

16
posted on 11/21/2013 7:46:26 PM PST
by sarasmom
(Extortion 17. A large number of Navy SEALs died on that mission. Ask why.)

This is part of the Democrat reelection plan for 2014 & 2016. Democrat operatives here in WI are engaged in a fishing expedition to unmask conservative donors by saying they are looking for election law violations in the recent recall Gov.Walker effort [the left’s efforts failed]. Once outed, expect leftist boycotts against business donors & private home demonstrations v. individual donors.

17
posted on 11/21/2013 7:55:28 PM PST
by RicocheT
(Where neither their property nor their honor is touched, most men live content, Niccolo Machiavelli)

The Federal Election Commission on Thursday denied the request of a prominent Tea Party organization that argued it should not have to disclose its political donors because they might face harassment from the government or the public.

More accurately: The Federal Election Commission on Thursday denied the request of a prominent Tea Party organization for the specific purpose of ensuring that its political donors would face harassment from the government and the public.

30
posted on 11/22/2013 11:26:57 AM PST
by Pollster1
("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)

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